Error-key for calculating-machines.



0. THIEME.

ERROR KEY FOR CALCULATING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18. l9lI.

Patented Nov. 5, 1918,

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

0. THIEME. ERROR\KY FOB CALCULATING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, 191]. 1,28 13,59?u Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

5 $HEETSSHEET 2.

0. THIEME.

ERROR KEY FOR CALCULATING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18. 1917. I y

Patented Nov. 0,1918,

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' 1120622221 02 23 Tfieme O. THIEME.

I moa- KEY FOR CALCULATING MACHINES.

I APPLICATION FILED MAY 18. I917- 1,283 597 Patented Nov. 5, 1918,

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

)1 THEME.

ERROR KEY FOR CALCULA'HNG MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18. 1911.

1,283,597. I Patent-ed Nov. 5,1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

'ment in Error-Keys for UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

oT-To THIEME, or sT. LOUIS, macnmn COMPANY, or sr.

MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR LOUIS, MISSOURI, ACORFQRATION OF MISSOURI.

T MOON-HOPKINS BILLING ERROR- KEY FOR CALCULATING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

Application filed m 18, 1917. Serial No. 169,585.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OTTO THIEME, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented acertain new and useful Improve- Calculating-Machines, of which thefollowing is a full,

- clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, inwhich Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly in section of myimproved error key attachment for calculating machines.

Fig. 1 is a detail view of the means for restoring the frame containingthe key-positioned pins of the setting-up mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the keyboard arrangement of said machine.

Fig. 3 is a detail view illustrating the error key connections and itsmotor control.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the error key and part of theconnections controlled thereby.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional viewillusup a wrong Fig. 6 is ahorizontal sectional view showing the error key control of the motor.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the error-key operated releasing means forthe result keys.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in error keysforcalculating machines, the object being to provide such a machine with akey of the character described which key will, when. positioned, effeeta connection between the power shaft which drives the machine and theparts or elements of the machine to be restored when correcting anerror. Heretofore adding or calculating machines have been provided witherror keys which, when operated, reset the positioned parts in thecorrection of the error, thus rendering it crate the handle or driveshaft of the machine.

Commercial forms of adding machines, when first put on the market, wereuniformly operated by a handle with the result that when an error wasmade, as in setting item on the keyboard, the error key itselfhad to beoperated to restore the key-positioned parts to normal position. Thisform of error key did not require an unnecessary to opoperation of thehandle to restore the erroneously positioned parts. Indeed, in theso-called handle-operated eighty-one keyboard'machines such as of theBurroughs, Wales and Ellis type, the operation of the handle after anitem had been set up on the keyboard, in the absence of any preventingmechanism, would inevitably introduce such item into the register wheelsand accumulate it with the items previously introduced therein. In theten-key type of machine, such as the Standard, and especially those characterized by a transversely movable pin cartriage, such as the Dalton,the Sundstrand, and the Moon-Hopkins billing machine, the latter beingthe type shown in the a'ccoio'ipa-nying drawings, when the keys aresuccessively operated to set up a. number, the

setting-up devices, including the movable.

carriage, are displaced, and it is obvious that if the handle, or motor(or either) is operated under these conditions, such a number will beintroduced into the totalizer; or if the error key is operated toeliminate a number, the error key must re store all of the positionedparts before the handle .or motor is operated. The Standard machine ispossibly an. exception to this general rule when equipped with the errorkey attachment of the VVageley and Stocke Patent No. 800,959, datedOctober 3, 1905, which requires an operation. of the handle after theerror key is ope ated, to re-- form, the item is actually introducedbythe keys, into the register or totali zer, and the operation of thehandle is necessary to subtract, by reversely rotating the totalizerwheels, the last item erroneously introduced thereinto. More recentlythe trend in both eighty-one and ten key machines has been toward motordrives, which dispenses with the necessity for an operating handle, buteven in this type of motor drlven machine the error key has usually beenrelied upon to do the work of restoring the parts to normal positionindependently of any operation of the motor. 'In speaking of theoperation of the motor, it must not be understood to mean that the motoris still and moves only when the machine is being operated. There aresome types of machines s9 driven, but most commercial forms of machinesare driven by constantly running motor which are connected to the mamoperating shaft of of any motor drive.

the machine by some form of clutch mechanism to impart to the machine aneffective stroke. In all forms of motor drivenrnachines of which I amaware, the operation of the error key to restore the parts does notrender the motor operative with respect to the machine, but on thecontrary, the error key itself restores the parts independently s itrequires some little power to operate the error key to move the mass ofmetal under its control, it some times happens that the error key is notgiven a full stroke, in consequence of which the parts are not fullyrestored to position and improper operations attend subsequent.

movements ofthe machine.

In my present invention, the error key is designed to effectivelyconnect the motor to .the motor operating shaft of the machine and toposition other parts of the mechanism whereby when said operating shaftis making an effective stroke, it will restore all displaced andpreviously key-positioned parts to normal position. The motor thus adoes the work and relieves the error key of the necessity of movingheavy parts; and furthermore, there is little or no liability of theparts being left in an abnormal position after operation of the errorkey, as the error key must not only position certain parts of themachine, but incidentally therewith connect the motor to the operatingshaft, which, in making its complete movement, must of necessity restoreall the parts as in the normal operation of the machine. In connectionwith this feature of placing certain parts of the machine under controlof themotor driven shaft by the depression of the error key, andcoincidentally coupling the motor to the machine, there are locking andinterlocking devices which form part of my present invention, all ofwhich will hereinafter be described and afterward pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawings 1 indicates the base of the machine, 2 the side framesthereof, 3 the typewriter, keys, a the platen which supports the sheetof paper to be printed .upon anl which is moimted in the laterallymovable paper carriage. 5 are the rack bars of the adding mechanismcarrying printing type 6 at their forward ends and 7 and 8 are thetotalizer wheels of the adding mechanism. 9 is the laterally movable pincarriage in which the number to be introduced into the register wheels 7or 8 is set up by operating the digit keys 10 in the keyboard, saidcarriage being stepped leftwardly at each digit key operation in themanner hereinbefore disclosed in the Hubert Hopkins "French Patent No.383,719 granted January 16, 1908, and his United States applicationSerial No. 310,739 filed April 9, 1906.

11 indicates the motor having worm drive connections to a shaft 12on'which shaft are mounted driving and driven clutch members, the latterbeing conjoined to a crank arm 13 connected by a link 14 to rock arm 15on the main operating shaft 16 ofthe adding machine mechanism. The meansfor releasing this driven clutch member and permitting its engagementwith the driving clutch member comprises a beveled lug 1-7 on the drivenclutch member 18 which lug cooperates with a bar 19 having a beveledlower edge, as shown in Fig. (5, whereby when said bar 19 is raised, thedriven clutch member 18 is forced into engagement with the drivingclutch member 18 by the spring 20. The motor drive thus described andits method of control is substantially the same as that disclosed inHubert Hopkins United States Patent No. 1,025,698 dated May 7, 1912, andincludes, as shown in said patent, a sliding motor bar 21 having aninclined face for engagement with the pin l9 whereby upon the depressionof the motor key bar 22 (see Fig. 2), said motor bar 21 will be pulledforwardly to raise the bar 19 and release the driven clutch member 18which, upon engagement with the driving clutch member 18 andparts,imparts a complete revolution to the crank arm 13. 23 indicates a motorcontrolling bar (see Fig. operated by the subtraction key 25 and themultiplier keys 26, whereby when either of said keys is depressed, themotor bar 19 will be lifted and.

the motor coupled to drive the adding mech anism without necessitatingthe separate op eration of depressing the motor bar 22.

My present invention, however, has nothing to do with this multiplecontrol of the motor by the motor key 22, the subtraction key 25, or themultiplier keys 26.

In the development of the Moon-Ho kins billing machine disclosed in theHubert Hopkins French patent and United States application of HubertHopkins, before referred to, the constantly running motor 11 is utilizedto operate the back spacing and carriage return mechanisms of the papercarriage and for this purposea gear 2-8 was conjoined to the drivingclutch member 18 for driving a gear 29 on the counter-shaft 30. Iutilize this counter shaft in the present construction and by providingthe same. with a fixed clutch member 31..with which cooperates a springpressed movable clutch member 32 having a pin 33 for cooperating withtheinclined lower end of bar 34 which bar is provided witha pin 35 at itsupper end for cooperating with an error key connection. The movableclutch member 32 is provided with a cam 36 which cam cooperates witha'pin 37 on a bell crank lever 38 connected by a link-39to the T- shapedlever 40. This T-shaped lever is connected by a rod 41 to restoringmeans in the form of a plate 42 which-is employed 'to depress any of theraised pins 43 in the laterally movable carriage 9, which pins may havebeen previously positioned by the operation of the digit keys torepresent a number. The rod 39 is provided with a slot in its rear endfor engagement with the bell crank lever 40 so that said bell cranklever Will be operated at the final limit of the forward movement ofsaid. rod. Other means are provided for operating the restoring platefor the pins 43 in the normal operation of the machine, but we are notconcerned with this in the present application, as such means are notoperative during the movement of the parts incident to the operation ofthe error key.

It will be observed by referring to Figs. 5 and 6 that there are twoclutch driving members 18 and 31, and two clutch driven members 18 and32, the member 18 being controlled by the motor key 22 and possibly .bythe subtraction key 25 and any one of the multiplier keys 26 if thesemechanisms are included in the machine, while the driven clutch member32 is controlled only by the error key in the manner now about I to 'bedescribed.

'45 indicates the error key in the form of a rod having a button or headat its forward end and connected to the bar 46 which latter has anextension providing an inclined face 16 which cooperates with the pin 35on the upper end of bar 34. Thus, when the error key is pressedrearwardly, it will lift the bar 34 and effect a complete rotation ofthe cam 36, rocking the bell crank 38 in the manner before described.Bar 46 is provided with a shoulder 46 which cooperates with a beveledend of the laterally movable bar 47 having a notch in its inner endwhich notch normally lies in front of the motor bar 21, whereby whensaid bar 417 is in normal position .the motor key 22 and its bar 21 maybe operated, but when the bar 17 is displaced by the operation of theerror key, the motor bar 22 cannot be operated. The displacement of bar47 also locks the inner end thereof in front of the rock arm 48 (seeFigs. 2 and 3) which rock arm is connected to a hinged plate 49 lyingover all of the key bars operated by the digit keys 10 and consequentlynone of said digit keys can be operated when the error key is in otherthan normal position. The link 39, before referred'to, which cooperateswith a lever 50 (see Figs. 2 and 3) which lever 50 -extends across themachine and is provided.

levers 330 and 331, the latter of which are connected by a link to a rod333 which extends forwardly and is connected to one of the resultkeys sothat when said result keys are depressed, the bar will be pulled forwardand locate the lug 329 in front of the plate 176, thus holding theresult key depressed. In the ordinary operation of the machine, such forinstance as disclosed in the Hubert Hopkins Patent No. 1,118,489, datedNovember 24:, 1914, means are operated upon rocking of the main shaft ofthe machine, to raise the forward edge of plate 176 and release theresult keys at about the time the rock shaft is completing its firsthalf stroke of movement. If any of the result keys have been operatedand stand depressed at the time the error key.

in this present application is operated, the movement of the lever 50will release such result keys and permit them to rise as an form ofmultiplying and subtracting mechanism which may be used in connectionwith the Moon-Hopkins billing machine for which my present invention isespecially designed.

lhe lever 50, before referred to, also has connected to ita link 51which extends rearwardly so as to cooperate with the bent lower end ofthe bell crank lever 52 connected to a vertically movable bar 53identified with the multiplying mechanism, whereby upon the operation ofthe error key, bar 53 will be released so as to render the multiplyingplates inoperative.

Bar 40, in addition to operating the restoring plate 42 for the pins 43,also restores the frame 9 to normal position through the mediumof ashoulder 40 on said bar (see Fig. 1), which shoulder is designed toengage a pin on a segmental rack 61 pivoted to the fral'ne of themachine. This seg-. ment 61 meshes with a pinion 62 meshing with a rack63 having a projection (33 on its inner end which is designed to engageand restore the frame 9 whenever the segment ()1 is depressed. Anyleftward movement of frame 9 is permittedso far as the segment 61 isconcerned by reason of the unrestrained upward movement of said segmentwhen bar 40 is locked in its normal position wherein shoulder 40 islocated some distance above pin 60. The pinion62 also en-- pression ofbar 40 whenever the error key is operated, which bar 40 returns theframe 9 and its controlhng escapement mechanism to their startlngpositions respectively and operates the restoring plate 42 to-restorethe pins 43 in the frame 9 so that another example may be set up onthe-keyboard.

From the above, it will be observed that with respect to the motordrivefor the machine there are two clutch controlling keys which willcause said motor to ettectively drive parts of the adding mechanism. hefirst key which may be designated as the .regular motor key will operatethe main rocking shaft f the machineto introduce a number set up on thekeyboard into the totalizer wheels and record said number and, inaddition to this, will restore certain parts to their normal or startingposition for another operation. Whereasythe second motor controllingkeyoperative to correct an error-will take power from the motor at adifi'erent point and only operate the restoring parts of the addingmechanism, thus causing the motor to perform the actual work ofrestoration and relieving the error key from the necessity of movingsaid restoring parts.

What I claim is:

1. In a calculating machine, the cor tion with two power driven shafts,an mechanism, a motor key for effective necting one of said shafts'tosaid adding mechanism to register a number in the totalizer thereof andrestoring said adding ma chine parts in readiness for another operation,and an error key for effectively con-- necting the other of saidshaii'ts to the restoring parts only of said adding mechanism.

2. In a calculating machine, the combination of register wheels,actuating racks therefor, key-positioned dev ces for controlling theexcursions of said racks, a power shaft, and an error key for placingsaid power shaft in control of said key-positioned devices for returningthem to normal position independently of any operation of: said registerwheels. I

3. In a calculating machine, the combina tion of a totalizer, itsactuating devices, key-operated setting-up mechanism, motordriven parts,means for effectively connect signature this 10th day of May, 191:.

ing said motor-driven parts to resistor a number in said totahzer andrestore said actuating devices and said setting-up mechanism to theirstartinglposition in readiness for another operation, an error key, andmeans operated by said error key for enabling and disabling theoperation of certain parts of the setting-up mechanism, said error keyalso effectively connecting said motor drive to such parts only as areto be restored to starting position when an error is made.

. 4. In a calculating machine, the combination with an adding mechanism,setting-up devicestherefor, a keyboard containing digit keys foroperating said setting-up devices, said keyboard also containing resultkeys, a main operating shaft for the adding machine which is operatedwhen a number is being introduced into said adding mechanism and alsowhen said adding mechanism is yielding a total, a motor driven shaft, amotor key for effectively connecting said shaft to the main operatingshaft of said adding mechanism in the operations of accumulating andyielding numbers, error key, and means operated by said error key forlocking the digit keys in said keyboard against operation, releasing anyresult keys which may have been operated, disabling parts of said addingmechanism, and eti'eo tively connecting said motor drive to saidsetting-up devices, to restore them to normal or starting position inreadiness for an other digit key operation.

5; In a calculating machine, the combination with an adding mechanism,settingup.

devices therefor, 'akeyboard containing digit keys for operating saidsetting-up devices, keyboard also containing result keys, a mainoperating shaft for the adding n1ac-.-.i'ne which is operated when anumber is being introduced intosaid adding mech anism and also when saidaddii mechanism is yielding a total, a motor (ii'lVQIl shaft, a motorkey for effectively comiectinf said shaft said adding mechanism in theoperatrons or accumulating and yielding numbers, an error key, and meansoperated by said error key for locking the digit keys in said keyboardagainst ope ation, and effectively connecting i drive to said setting-updevices, to re them to normal or 'ing position in read ness for anotherdigit key OPQI'tliTiOZL In testimony whereof .l hereunto aiiix my to themain operating shaft

